Mitsotakis calls his exit from Parliament “elementary parliamentary self-respect” – Pappas responds: “We did not expect such an institutional failure”

Pappas responded sharply to Mitsotakis’ departure, accusing the prime minister of exploiting the Special Court case for political gain. “We expected Mr. Mitsotakis to use the Special Court case as a weapon, but we did not anticipate such an institutional failure,” he remarked.

Mitsotakis, who left the chamber before Pappas began speaking, later addressed Parliament in his second speech, reiterating his refusal to acknowledge Pappas as a legitimate opposition leader and stating that his actions were guided by “elementary parliamentary self-respect.” He added: “Once the official opposition party finds a proper leader, I will engage with them.”

The prime minister then turned his attention to PASOK-KINAL and its re-elected leader, Nikos Androulakis, accusing the party of failing to modernise and criticising its stance on key legislative issues, such as the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection bill and the election of a new Ombudsman. Mitsotakis claimed PASOK’s opposition was driven by political expediency rather than policy, stating: “PASOK needs to decide if it will continue with a blanket opposition to everything, or if it will engage in real efforts to enact necessary reforms.”

Pappas: “Mitsotakis is guilty of institutional failure”

Following the prime minister’s remarks, Pappas fired back, accusing Mitsotakis of undermining the parliamentary process. “He’s a coward, hiding from facing us, and a guilty orchestrator of government manipulation,” Pappas declared. He criticised Mitsotakis for his ongoing enforcement of the TV licensing law, which was passed under the previous SYRIZA government, calling it a “Mitsotakis-Pappas law.”

Pappas stated: “Mr. Mitsotakis continues to enforce the very law he accuses us of creating. Since 2019, he has been applying the TV licensing legislation every single day. Yet, he has the audacity to attack us for it. Let’s be clear, if we’re talking about this law, let’s call it what it is: the ‘Mitsotakis-Pappas law.'”

He also took aim at Mitsotakis’ attempts to influence internal party matters, accusing the prime minister of trying to dictate the opposition’s leadership. “He wants to choose who leads the opposition. That is beyond his authority. We won’t tolerate his childish behaviour. Who represents the official opposition is none of his concern,” Pappas concluded.

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